Multiple Sclerosis helpline calls triple after assisted suicide interview

THE numbers of people contacting the country’s multiple sclerosis helpline has nearly tripled in the 24 hours since it was revealed a Corkman suffering from the illness died by assisted suicide in Switzerland.

According to Multiple Sclerosis Ireland, they have received over 30 calls in the past 24 hours from young people recently diagnosed with the illness and others in a more advanced stage of the illness.

Thirty-year-old Martin Barry, from Model Farm Road in Cork, died in Zurich last month with the help of the assisted suicide group, Dignitas, which he had joined over a year ago. “There are a number of calls from people who feel they are presenting symptoms of MS. While it would be easy to dismiss these calls, it is important to bear in mind that MS is a disorder which, despite its prevalence, is shrouded in myth and misinformation. The symptoms are easily passed off as simple fatigue, over-exertion or any number of other excuses,” said Ann Strunks of MSIreland.